- Canadians speak on 'The Next Economy' for Canada
- Canada's growing gap
- Hedge Fund Would Rather Shut Down a Plant Than Pay Its Workers a Fair Wage
- Dave in Kingston, Ontario - on the failure of free market policies
- Debbie in Kingston, Ontario - on the attack on worker's organizations
- John Paul in Kingston, Ontario - need for greater collaboration between sectors
- Darlene in Kingston, Ontario - need for greater job security
- Brendan in Kingston, Ontario - need for improved training services
- Robin in Kingston, Ontario - need for improved employment services
- Mary in St. John's, Newfoundland - need for improved retirement security
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Employment Insurance
As Canada's unemployment rate hits 8% the number of people relying on Employment Insurance is growing. Most of us have paid into EI thinking that benefits will be there when they really need them. But increasingly many Canadians are realizing that the changes that successive governments have made to the program are leaving them out in the cold.
Past federal governments built up a huge surplus of over $54 billion in the EI fund, mainly as a result of cuts in benefits and changes to eligibility rules.
We are told that in 1996, the maximum weekly benefit was $604 in today’s dollars while today the maximum is only $447 - the average benefit just $335 per week.
Even more of concern is that in 2006-07 only 40% of unemployed workers qualified for EI. The number of women who qualify is even lower.
What do you think needs to be done with the EI program?
